After a dreadful start to the season, Cardiff City look to have finally turned the corner, sitting in ninth position in the Championship table, just four points from the playoff positions. This weekend also saw the Bluebirds reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 14 years – but what many people do not realise is that Cardiff cannot qualify for European football. If Cardiff managed to gain promotion this season, theoretically they would be within shooting distance of European qualification, however the FA will not nominate a non-English team to represent England in a European competition. Cardiff City are actually members of the Welsh FA, therefore are allowed to play in England by way of an “affiliated membership”. English officials claim that due to Cardiff being an “affiliated member” they can play in the Barclays FA Premier League, however cannot represent England in Europe.

There is no ruling however from Uefa preventing Cardiff from representing English football in Europe, as there are examples outside of Britain where this exact situation takes place – a Monaco side in France for instance, or even Lichtenstein representing Switzerland in Europe. As it stands, the English are having none of it.

So with Scottish Giants Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic citing a future move to the Premiership – the English FA may have to have a rethink.

Do you think the English FA should allow Cardiff City to represent them in Europe, if they qualify?

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